THE Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will investigate what officers in Sussex knew about the family of a Lightwater mother who has been charged with murdering her two children.

Sussex Police said it was reviewing the "limited contact" it had with Fiona Donnison and her family before the toddlers were found dead last Wednesday.

The bodies of Harry Donnison, three, and his two-year-old sister Elise were discovered in a car boot after their mother went to Heathfield police station to report an "incident".

She was charged with her children’s murder over the weekend and remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court later this month.

Mrs Donnison, 43, had been living with the two children in Marshwood Road, Lightwater, for several months after suffering marital problems with her husband Paul.

Sussex Police has now referred its own review of officers' contact with the Donnisons to the IPCC.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "Quite understandably, last week's events in Heathfield were of high public interest and led to intense media coverage.

"Some of that coverage included speculation, particularly around previous contact between members of the Donnison family and the police.

"Sussex Police had last week commenced a full review of our limited contact with the family prior to 27 January and that review is ongoing.

"At present, no issues of concern have been identified, but to emphasise the objectivity and transparency of the actions being taken, this aspect of the overall investigation has today been voluntarily referred to the IPCC."